Raising The Bar.TV

About the show

RAISING THE BAR is a powerful new legal drama from Emmy® winning producer Steven Bochco and lawyer/writer David Feige (Indefensible). The show stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar (NYPD Blue), Gloria Reuben (ER) and Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) and revolves around the lives of several young lawyers, friends who work on opposite sides – the public defender’s office and the district attorney’s office. Raising the Bar premieres Monday, Sept. 1, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT).

In Bochco's own words, “The primary characters are a group of young public defenders and prosecutors who go up against each other during the day, but they’re friends and hang out with each other at night,” Bochco says. “They argue and negotiate with each other. They are dedicated players within what we feel is a broken criminal justice system.”

The Public Defenders' Office:
In Raising the Bar, Mark-Paul Gosselaar plays Jerry Kellerman, an idealistic public defender who will go to any lengths to defend his clients. Gloria Reuben plays Rosalind Whitman, Jerry’s passionate and protective boss. Teddy Sears (Ugly Betty) plays Richard Patrick Woolsley, who turns down a job in his father’s company to be a public defender. Natalia Cigliuti (All My Children) is Roberta “Bobbi” Gilardi, joins the team and quickly proves she can hold her own in the courtroom.

The District Attorney's Office:
Melissa Sagemiller (Sleeper Cell) plays Michelle Ernhardt, an attorney in the DA’s office. She works for the sharp assistant DA, Nick Balco, played by Currie Graham (Boston Legal). They are joined by J. August Richards (Conviction) as Marcus McGrath, who is relentless in putting criminals behind bars.

The Courtroom:
Jane Kaczmarek plays Judge Trudy Kessler, who is preparing to make a political run to become the next District Attorney. Assisting her is law clerk Charlie Sagansky, played by Jonathan Scarfe (Into the West).